Globe and Phoenix’s gold rush grief

Illegal gold miners are digging up school grounds with no regard to the integrity of building structures

Authorities at Globe and Phoenix Primary School in Kwekwe have expressed fears that school buildings could crumble this rainy season, after illegal miners have dug a warren of tunnels underneath the school in search of gold.

“It’s now raining and these pits which are underneath the classroom blocks will be filled with water causing the classroom blocks to collapse,” said school head Mr Isaac Pfupajena,

School authorities have already decommissioned two classroom blocks over safety concerns.

Mr Pfupajena said the school authorities have taken some measures to try and protect its integrity with limited success.

“We have engaged security guards but at times they (illegal miners) come at night and threaten the guards before they dig huge pits underneath the classroom blocks in search of gold,” explaining that the illegal miners target the school at night.

He said that the school has asked the police to establish a post at the school which is very close to the CBD, but that has not happened.

Mr Pfupajena said the installation of security lights has deterred some miners but the most determined ones continue to invade the school premises.

The threat extends to the site of the the Kwekwe District Government offices, residential properties and municipal infrastructure in the area.

Kwekwe District Development Coordinator, Mr Fortune Mpungu told a recent Kwekwe Civil Protection Unit meeting his office was also waiting for a geographical assessment report from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.

EMA Midlands manager Benson Bhasera said a multi-sectoral approach is needed to protect Globe and Phoenix from the invaders.